MANUAL 

Missionary  Society  Methodist 
Ep  iscopal  Church 


Revised  by  Order  of  the  Board  of  Managers 
and  adopted  October  i8,  1904 


MISSION  ROOMS 
150  FIFTH  AVENUE 
NEW  YORK 


1904 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/manualmissionaryOOmeth 


CONTENTS 


The  numbers  refer  to  the  paragraphs. 


I.  Organization,  Purpose,  and  Powers  of  the  Missionary 
Society 

Purpose,  1  ;  Charter,  2  ;  General  Committee,  3 ;  Board 
of  Managers,  4 ;  The  Missions,  6  ;  How  Administered,  6 ; 
Support  of  Missions,  7 ;  Contingent  Fund,  8 ;  Extraor¬ 
dinary  Cases,  9 ;  Applications,  10. 

II.  The  Qualifications  and  Selection  of  Missionaries 

Call  to  Service,  11  ;  Examination  of  Candidates,  12;  No 
Outfit  Allowance,  13;  Passage  and  Freight,  14  ;  Charges 
on  Freight,  15  ;  Paying  Bills  for  Missionaries,  16  ;  Mis¬ 
sion  Furniture,  17  ;  Rent  at  Home,  18;  Field  and  Home 
Salaries,  19 ;  Superannuates,  Widows,  and  Orphans,  20 ; 
Place  and  Work,  21 ;  Status  of  a  Missionary,  22  ;  Not  to 
Leave  the  Field,  23 ;  Meaning  of  Foreign  Missionary,  24 ; 
Acceptance  of  Missionaries  on  the  Field,  25  ;  Must  Learn 
the  Language,  26 ;  Furloughs,  27 ;  Length  of  Furlough, 
28  ;  Reports  and  Statistics,  29 ;  Sending  in  Reports,  30. 

III.  The  Finances  of  the  Misssions 

A  Treasurers  and  Their  Duties. 

Appointment  of  Treasurer,  31 ;  Responsible  to  the 
Board  Only,  32;  To  Disburse  Remittances,  33;  May 
Not  Loan  P’unds,  34 ;  May  Not  Make  Drafts,  35  ;  Sale 
of  Exchange,  36  ;  Lapsed  Appropriations,  37 ;  Auditing 
Committee,  38  ;  Detailed  Accounts,  39 ;  Bank  Accounts, 
40 ;  Guard  Expenditures,  41 ;  Pay  No  Unauthorized 
Bills,  42 ;  Expense  Accounts  of  Missionaries,  48 ;  Real 


4 


Contents 


Estate  Accounts,  44 ;  Purchase  of  Real  Estate,  46 ;  Title, 
46 ;  Care  for  Mission  Property,  47 ;  Certificates  of  De¬ 
posit,  48 ;  Bills  for  Missionaries,  49 ;  Lists  of  Pay¬ 
ments,  60. 

B.  Finance  Committees  and  Their  Duties. 

How  Appointed,  61 ;  Prepare  Estimates,  62 ;  Self-Sup¬ 
port  in  Missions,  63 ;  Estimates  to  Include,  54  ;  When 
Prepared,  66 ;  Arrange  Redistribution,  66 ;  Approve 
Bills,  67  ;  Real  Estate  Improvements,  68  ;  Purchase  Real 
Estate,  69 ;  Dispose  of  Real  Estate,  60 ;  Provide  for 
Emergencies,  61  ;  Audit  Accounts,  62  ;  Moving  Expenses^ 
etc.,  63  ;  Pass  Upon  Requests  to  Board,  64;  Recommend 
Furloughs,  66  ;  Salaries  of  Native  Workers,  66. 

C.  Administration  of  Special  Gifts  and  Other  Funds. 
Constitutional  Provision,  67 ;  Special  Gifts  through 
Society  Treasury,  68 ;  Deposited  with  Mission  Treasurer, 
69  ;  Income  on  the  Field,  70 ;  Gifts  for  Property,  71 ; 
Rentals,  etc.,  72;  English-Speaking  Work,  73. 


Missionary  Manual 

STUDY  CAREFULLY  AND  FOLLOW  INSTRUCTIONS 


I.  Organization,  Purpose,  and  Powers  of  the  Missionary 

Society 

1.  The  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episco¬ 
pal  Church  is  the  Church  itself  in  a  corporate  form,  for 
p  the  purpose  of  establishing  and  supporting 

Christian  missions  in  our  own  and  in  foreign 
lands.  Its  chief  object  is  to  supply  the  living  preacher 
to  those  who,  either  for  the  want  of  men  or  money, 
must  otherwise  be  without  the  Gospel.  Every  person 
thus  sent  to  a  mission  field  is  a  missionary.  The  work 
of  education,  of  church  erection,  of  publication,  of 
tract  and  Bible  distribution,  of  relief  for  orphans,  sick 
ones,  etc.,  in  our  own  country,  is  all  provided  for  by 
other  organizations.  In  foreign  lands  the  educational, 
church  extension,  publication,  and  much  of  the 
humanitarian  work  is  devolved  upon  the  Missionary 
Society.  The  Sunday  School  Union,  the  Tract 

5 


6 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


Charter 


General 

Committee 


Board  of 
Managers 


Society,  and  the  American  Bible  Society  make  liberal 
grants  to  our  Foreign  Mission  work. 

2.  The  charter  granted  by  the  State  of  New  York 
empowers  the  General  Conference  to  appoint  the 

Board  of  Managers,  to  elect  the  Corresponding 
Secretaries  and  Treasurers,  and  to  adopt  a  Con¬ 
stitution  for  the  Society  and  amend  it  at  pleasure. 

3.  In  the  Constitution  provision  is  made  for  a  Gen¬ 
eral  Missionary  Committee,  to  consist  of  one  person 
each  from  the  General  Conference  Districts  and  an 

equal  number  from  the  Board  of  Managers, 
together  with  the  Bishops,  the  Corresponding 
Secretaries,  the  Recording  Secretary,  and  the 
Treasurer  and  the  Assistant  Treasurer  of  the  Society. 
This  Committee  has  sole  authority  to  determine  what 
fields  shall  be  occupied  as  Foreign  Missions,  the  number 
,  of  persons  to  be  employed  therein,  and  the  amount  to 
be  expended.  It  likewise  makes  provision  for  the  sup¬ 
port  of  our  Home  Missions. 

4.  The  administration  of  the  fiscal  affairs  of  the 
Missionary  Society  is  controlled  by  the  General  Com¬ 
mittee  and  the  Board  of  Managers.  The  Board 
of  Managers  consists  of  the  Bishops,  ex  officio, 
thirty-two  laymen,  and  thirty-two  traveling 

ministers.  To  it  is  committed  the  general  manage¬ 
ment  of  the  Society,  and  the  Corresponding  Secretaries 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


The 

Missions 


How  Ad¬ 
ministered 


are  accordingly  required  to  “  keep  a  vigilant  eye  upon 
all  the  affairs  of  the  Society,  and  especially  upon  all 
its  missions,  and  promptly  convey  to  the  Bishops 
having  charge  of  the  Missions  respectively,  to  the 
Board,  or  the  standing  committees,”  all  requisite 
information. 

5.  The  work  is  organized  into  Annual  Confer¬ 
ences,  Mission  Conferences,  and  Missions.  The  Annual 

Conferences  in  foreign  fields  have  all  the  powers 
of  Annual  Conferences  in  the  United  States. 
Mission  Conferences  can  do  all  that  Annual 
Conferences  can  do,  except  to  vote  on  constitutional 
provisions  and  to  elect  delegates  to  the  General  Con¬ 
ference.  Missions  in  annual  meeting  have  the  powers 
of  District  Conferences. 

6.  The  General  Conference  has  ordained  that  the 
administration  of  the  Missionary  Society  shall  in  no 

wise  be  disturbed  by  the  organization  of  a  For¬ 
eign  Mission  into  an  Annual  Conference,  but 
shall  be  in  full  force  as  before  such  organization. 
(See  Discipline,  ^  M.)  r^^me  Missions  in  our 
own  land  are  by  direction  of  the  General  Committee 
administered  as  Foreign  Missions ;  but  all  other 
Domestic  Missions  are  made  such  by  Annual  Confer¬ 
ences,  by  distributing  to  charges  from  appropriations 
of  the  General  Missionary  Committee  sums  supposed 


8 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


to  be  sufficient  for  their  support  when  added  to  the 
amount  to  be  raised  in  the  charges. 

7.  The  Church  has  assumed  the  support  of  its  Mis¬ 
sions,  and  committed  the  duty  of  securing  it  to  pastors 

and  congregations,  and  prescribed  a  plan  for 

Support  of  raising  the  needed  funds.  Everywhere  the 

Missions 

Church  is  doing  its  own  missionary  work,  and 
no  item  is  committed  to  an  organization  apart  from 
the  Church.  Its  functions  in  all  lands  are  performed 
by  the  proper  officers. 

8.  In  the  intervals  of  the  meetings  of  the  General 

Missionary  Committee  unforeseen  emergencies 

^ntingent  provided  for  by  the  Board  of  Man- 

rund 

agers  from  a  fund  not  exceeding  $50,000,  which 
the  Constitution  establishes  for  this  purpose. 

9.  This  fund  is  available  both  for  Domestic  and 
Foreign  Missions,  but  the  Board  can  only  make  grants 
from  it  provided  (1)  the  charge  is  a  mission,  if  in  a 

home  Annual  Conference,  and  (2)  an  emergency 

Extraordi-  arisen  that  was  not  foreseen  or  expected 

nary  Cases  ,  ,  , 

,  when  the  missionary  money  was  distributed. 

Such  emergencies  occasionally  arise  both  at  home  and 
abroad.  In  our  Domestic  Missions  there  is  always 
opportunity  to  consult  the  missionary  authorities  in 
New  York.  In  foreign  lands,  as  at  home,  extraordi¬ 
nary  emergencies  may  be  caused  by  fire,  flood,  mob, 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


9 


Applications 


Call  to 
Service 


war,  etc.,  and  on  rare  occasions  those  on  the  field 
may  be  required  to  assume  responsibilities  in  meeting 
emergencies,  but  individual  missionaries  should  never 
do  so  when  there  are  others  who  may  be  consulted, 
and  in  such  cases  the  expenditure  should  be  kept  at 
the  minimum  and  the  Corresponding  Secretaries 
should  be  informed  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 
None  of  our  Foreign  Missions  are  now  beyond  the 
reach  of  telegraph  or  cable,  which  should  be  employed 
when  urgent  need  demands. 

10.  Applications  for  grants  from  the  Contingent 
Fund  should  be  made  to  the  Board  through  the  Cor¬ 
responding  Secretaries.  All  such  applications 
from  Foreign  Missions  must  come  with  the 

approval  of  Finance  Committees,  from  Home  Missions 
with  the  approval  of  the  superintendent  or  presiding 
elder  and  the  Bishop  in  charge. 

II.  The  Qualifications  and  Selection  of  Missionaries 

11.  The  Holy  Spirit  draws  many  devout  hearts  to 
the  missionary  work,  and  this  call  should  not  be  dis¬ 
regarded.  The  perishing  condition  of  millions 
of  our  race  demands  that  every  true  child  of 
God  should  do  his  utmost  to  supply  them  with 

the  saving  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  To  this 
work  some  must  give  themselves,  their  time,  talents. 


10  Manual  op  Missionary  Society 

and  life  itself.  No  one  should  think  of  becoming 
a  missionary  except  under  the  inspiration  of  a  holy 
purpose  to  do  his  utmost  to  save  and  elevate  those 
to  whom  he  goes.  Let  the  candidate  examine  himself 
and  see  if  the  end  in  view  is  travel,  observation, 
experience,  scholarship,  professional  eminence  as  a 
physician,  teacher,  linguist,  author,  or  any  such  work. 
If  so,  he  needs  a  higher  and  holier  baptism  before  he 
should  aspire  to  be  Christ’s  ambassador  to  a  dying 
nation.  In  other  words,  the  love  of  Christ  and  the  love 
of  souls  should  inspire  the  offer  for  missionary  work. 

12.  The  Society  expects  those  who  enter  its  service 
as  missionaries  to  give  their  lives  to  the  cause.  Hav¬ 
ing  in  view  the  difficulty  of  mastering  foreign  lan¬ 
guages,  particularly  those  of  Asia,  of  learning  the 
peculiarities  and  characteristics  of  strange  peoples, 
and  of  becoming  fully  prepared  for  satisfactory 
service,  the  Society  pays  particular  attention 

Examination  character,  abilities,  training,  age,  health, 

of  Candidates  ... 

and  disposition  of  candidates.  The  Corre¬ 
sponding  Secretaries  must  have  full  information  on 
all  these  points  from  the  candidate  and  those  who 
know  him  well,  and  a  careful  examination  is  con¬ 
ducted  before  a  committee  in  New  York  to  make 
sure  that  he  is  a  proper  person  to  be  sent  out.  A 
thorough  medical  examination  is  also  required. 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


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Forms  of  application  will  be  furnished  by  the  Cor¬ 
responding  Secretaries. 

13.  No  outfit  or  allowance  for  outfit  is  furnished 
missionaries  by  the  Society.  In  going  to  the  field  the 
missionary  must  proceed  by  the  most  direct  route 

from  his  home.  If  permission  is  granted  for 

No  Outfit  (delays  or  detours  from  the  direct  route,  the 

Allowance 

expense  of  such  delay  or  detour  must  be  borne 
by  the  missionary  himself,  except  reasonable  distances 
for  farewell  visits  to  parents  or  brother  or  sister,  the 
expense  of  which  the  Society  will  bear. 

14.  After  he  is  accepted  the  new  missionary  will 
arrange,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Corresponding 
Secretaries,  for  his  departure  for  the  field.  The  de¬ 
tails  respecting  his  journey  by  rail,  his  passage 

Passap  and  steamship,  the  shipment  of  his  freight,  etc., 

rrcight 

will  be  looked  after  by  the  Recording  Secretary 
if  the  missionary  wishes  him  to  do  so.  The  expenses 
are  paid  by  the  Society  on  itemized  bill.  On  applica¬ 
tion  a  form  in  duplicate  will  be  furnished  by  the 
Missionary  Secretaries  for  this  purpose,  one  copy  to  be 
retained  by  the  Treasurer  of  the  Mission  to  which  the 
missionary  goes,  the  other  to  be  sent  by  the  Treasurer 
to  the  Corresponding  Secretaries  for  their  approval. 
Any  balance  of  outgoing  expenses  in  his  hands  should 
be  promptly  reported  to  the  Mission  Treasurer. 


12 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


15.  The  Society  will  pay  charges  on  freight,  except 
pianos  and  organs,  to  the  extent  of  three  cubic  tons  for 

each  missionary  and  one  half  cubic  ton  for  each 
child  going  to  the  field  for  the  first  time  or  finally 
returning  therefrom;  and  to  the  extent  of  one 
cubic  ton  for  each  missionary  and  one  half  cubic  ton 
for  each  child  returning  from  the  field  on  furlough  or 
returning  to  the  field  after  furlough.  The  Mission 
Rooms,  150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  city,  may  freely 
be  used  for  deposit  of  goods  in  transitu.  All  boxes 
should  be  plainly  marked  with  the  name  of  the  owner 
and  destination,  and  invoices  should  be  furnished  to 
the  Recording  Secretary,  both  for  outgoing  and  in¬ 
coming  freight. 

16.  The  Secretaries  are  always  ready  and  willing  to 
attend  to  any  business  matters  which  missionaries 
desire  to  intrust  to  them.  The  directions  should  in 
all  cases  be  very  definite.  If  the  missionary  wishes 
the  annual  premium  on  his  life  insurance  policy  to  be 
paid  for  him,  full  information  should  be  given  the 

Secretaries,  preferably  on  a  blank  furnished  by 
Paying  them,  and  the  company  should  be  asked  to  send 
.  .  notices  of  premiums  due  to  the  Missionary  Office. 

If  goods  are  ordered  of  a  firm  in  the  United 
States  and  the  missionary  desires  the  Society  to  pay 
the  bill  for  him,  he  should  notify  the  Secretaries 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


13 


Mission 

Furniture 


Rent  at 
Home 


by  letter,  or,  better  still,  by  the  use  of  a  form  pro¬ 
vided  for  this  purpose,  known  as  “Request  to  Certify 
Bills.”  He  would  do  well  to  apply  to  the  Secretaries 
for  circular  of  instructions.  It  is  not  sufficient  in 
ordering  goods  to  direct  the  firm  to  call  on  the  Mission¬ 
ary  Society  for  payment.  The  Secretaries  must  have 
the  direct  request  of  the  missionary  in  such  form,  either 
printed  or  written,  that  it  may  be  filed. 

17.  On  reaching  the  field  the  missionary  will  report 
to  the  Treasurer,  and  will  be  assigned,  if  married,  a 

residence,  supplied  with  heavy  furniture  belong¬ 
ing  to  the  Missionary  Society;  if  single,  a  place  to 
board  with  a  missionary  family,  if  practicable. 
It  should  be  understood  that  furniture  purchased  by 
funds  of  the  Society  is  for  the  use  only  of  the 
missionary  and  should  be  left,  when  he  removes,  for 
his  successor. 

18.  Married  missionaries,  provided  they  do  not  re¬ 
tain  the  houses  they  have  occupied  in  the  field,  shall 
receive  an  allowance  of  $15  per  month  for  rent  during 

the  year  of  their  furlough,  or  for  such  portion 
thereof  as  they  may  actually  occupy  rented 
houses.  A  rent  allowance  of  $15  per  month 
may  be  paid,  if  Mission  Finance  Committees  so 
recommend,  to  the  families  of  missionaries  remaining 
in  the  United  States  during  the  time  they  actually 


14 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


occupy  rented  houses,  provided  no  claim  for  rent  or 
for  use  of  a  house  is  made  by  members  of  such 
families  remaining  in  the  field.  Finance  Committees 
of  Missions  shall  provide  for  these  cases  in  the  esti¬ 
mates,  and  also  in  the  redistribution. 

19.  The  new  missionary's  salary  will  begin  when  he 
reaches  the  field.  It  will  be  paid  by  the  Mission 

Treasurer  monthly  in  advance,  according  to  the 
Field  and  rates  fixed  from  time  to  time  by  the  Board. 

When  a  missionary  comes  home  on  furlough  he 
is  paid  a  furlough  salary,  differing  slightly  from 
the  field  salary.  The  field  salary  ends  and  the  home 
salary  begins  when  a  missionary  leaves  the  field;  the 
home  salary  ends  and  the  field  salary  begins  when  he 
reaches  the  field  on  his  return.  Parts  of  a  month  less 
than  one  half  are  disregarded  in  passing  from  one  of 
these  rates  to  the  other.  If,  for  example,  the  mission¬ 
ary  leaves  the  field  in  the  latter  half  of  the  month,  he 
is  paid  field  salary  for  the  whole  month;  if  he  leaves 
in  the  first  half,  his  home  salary  will  begin  the  first 
of  the  month.  A  missionary  bereaved  of  his  wife  and 
having  dependent  children  left  in  his  care  is  entitled 
to  a  continuance  of  the  salary  paid  him  as  a  married 
man  without  change  of  rate. 

20.  The  missionary’s  salary  will  be  sufficient,  with 
wise  economy,  for  his  comfortable  support;  not  suffi- 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


15 


cient  to  compensate  for  defects  in  his  financial  manage¬ 
ment,  nor  so  small  that  the  more  prudent  may  not 
have  something  to  spare.  Suitable  support,  not  com- 
pensation,  is  the  Society's  purpose.  God  will  com¬ 
pensate.  Article  XII  of  the  Constitution  reads  as 
follows:  “The  Board  may  provide  for  the  support 
of  superannuated  missionaries,  widows  and 

Supe^nnu-  orphans  of  missionaries,  who  may  not  be 
ates,  Widows,  ^  . 

and  Orphans  Provided  for  by  their  Annual  Conferences 
respectively,  it  being  understood  that  they 
shall  not  receive  more  than  is  usually  allowed  to  other 
superannuated  ministers,  their  widows  and  orphans.” 
Applications  for  allowances  and  annual  renewal  of 
allowances  are  to  be  made  to  the  Society  through 
the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  charge  within  whose 
bounds  a  superannuated  missionary  or  widow  or  child 
of  a  deceased  missionary  is  residing,  or  through  the 
Finance  Committee  of  a  Mission,  if  applicant  does  not 
reside  in  the  United  States. 

21.  The  missionary  is  subject  to  appointment  by 
the  proper  authorities  of  the  Church.  The  Board  is 
not  to  be  understood,  in  accepting  and  sending  out 
a  missionary,  as  entering  upon  any  contract 
with  him  as  to  the  particular  place  he  shall 
fill  or  the  particular  work  he  shall  do,  except  in 
rare  instances.  Place  and  work  will  be  assigned 


Place  and 
Work 


16 


Manual  op  Missionary  Society 


Status  of  a 
Missionary 


I 


him  on  the  field  year  by  year,  by  the  appointing 
power.  When  fully  installed  as  a  missionary  he  is  to 
give  his  undivided  energies  to  the  work,  with  much 
prayer,  much  consideration  for  his  associates,  much 
diligent  study  of  the  language  of  the  people  and  of 
the  word  of  God.  A  missionary  is  not  at  liberty  to 
undertake  any  other  except  Mission  work  without 
the  express  permission  of  the  Board.  Any  earnings 
from  such  employment  as  the  Board  may  sanction 
shall  be  paid  into  the  Mission  treasury. 

22.  Missionaries  who  are  members  of  Annual  Confer¬ 
ences  are  appointed  and  sent  to  foreign  fields  by  the 
concurrent  action  of  Bishops  and  the  Board;  mission¬ 
aries  who  are  not  members  of  Annual  Conferences 
are  appointed  and  sent  out  by  the  Board.  Those 
and  only  those  appointed  or  accepted  by  the 
Board  are  considered  as  foreign  missionaries.  Persons 
received  into  Conferences  on  the  field,  but  not  accepted 
by  the  Board,  are  not  missionaries  of  the  Missionary 
Society.  The  Constitution  provides  that  ^‘no  one 
shall  be  acknowledged  as  a  missionary  or  receive  sup¬ 
port  as  such  from  the  funds  of  the  Society  who  has  not 
some  definite  field  assigned  to  him  in  the  service  of 
the  Society.”  Therefore  if  a  missionary  sent  out  by 
the  Society  or  accepted  on  the  field  leaves  the  work 
of  the  Society  for  any  other  whatever,  he  ceases  by 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


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such  act  to  be  a  missionary  and  separates  himself  from 
the  Society.  Even  though  he  may  continue  to  be  a 
member  of  a  foreign  Annual  Conference,  and  may 
subsequently  receive  appointment  by  a  Bishop,  the 
fact  of  such  membership  and  such  appointment  does 
not  restore  him  to  the  status  of  a  missionary.  In  the 
Home  field,  those  who  serve  charges  receiving  their 
support  in  whole  or  in  part  from  the  Missionary 
Society  are  classed  as  missionaries. 

23.  Missionaries  may  not  leave  the  field  even  for 
brief  vacations  without  permission  of  the  Mission 

authorities,  and  must  not  return  to  the  United 
States  for  any  reason  without  the  consent  of  the 
Board.  Any  missionary  who  leaves  his  work 
without  the  authority  or  contrary  to  the  authority  of 
the  Superintendent,  Bishop,  or  Finance  Committee, 
will  have  his  salary  deducted  for  the  time  absent, 
and  the  Mission  Treasurer  is  authorized  to  with¬ 
hold  the  salary  during  the  period  of  such  unauthor¬ 
ized  absence. 

24.  The  term  "foreign  missionary  ”  has  been  defined 
by  the  Board  of  Managers  as  meaning  a  native 

Meaning  of  of  the  United  States,  working  as  a  missionary 
in  a  foreign  field  under  the  authority  of  the 
Board  of  Managers,  or  such  other  person  as 
shall  have  been  accepted  for  such  work  by  the 


Not  to  Leave 
the  Field 


Foreign 
Missionary 


18 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


Board  of  Managers  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  duly  appointed. 

(25.  When  persons  are  received  into  Annual  Confer¬ 
ences  or  Missions  in  foreign  countries,  they  should  be 
definitely  informed  at  the  time  that  such 
Acceptance  of  reception  gives  them  no  claim  to  recognition 

on  the  Field  foreign  missionaries,  or  to  receive  the  full 
salaries  of  missionaries,  or  allowance  for  chil¬ 
dren,  or  furloughs,  or  pensions,  at  the  expense  of  the 
Missionary  Society.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the 
reception  of  persons  into  Conferences  and  Missions  in 
the  foreign  field  is  becoming  frequent,  and  by  reason 
of  the  growth  of  our  work  will  be  increasingly  so, 
rendering  it  impracticable  for  the  Missionary  Society 
to  assume  the  responsibility  of  their  financial  support 
according  to  the  scale  of  salaries  fixed  for  mission¬ 
aries,  it  is  the  policy  of  the  Board  to  recognize  such 
persons  as  missionaries  only  in  exceptional  cases,  and 
for  special  reasons. 

26.  It  is  expected  of  all  our  missionaries  that  they 
will  devote  their  first  and  chief  attention  to  the  acquisi¬ 
tion  of  the  language  of  the  people  with  whom 

Must  Learn 


the  Language 


they  labor;  that  they  will  within  two  years 


acquire  the  language  so  as  to  be  able  to 
‘  preach,  or  teach,  or  conduct  services  in  it.  Failure 
*  to  acquire  the  language  will  be  deemed  a  sufficient 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church  19 

reason  for  the  recall  of  a  missionary  at  the  end  of 
two  years,  and,  unless  such  missionary  can  be  given  work 
in  his  native  language,  the  Bishops  in  charge  of  Foreign 
Missions  are  requested  to  recommend  to  the  Board  of 
Managers  the  return  to  this  country  of  those  who  thus 
fail.  Missionaries  who  have  been  several  years  on  the 
field  and  returned  home,  but  have  not  acquired  the  lan¬ 
guage,  will  not  be  returned  to  the  field,  except  on  a 
pledge  to  give  all  diligence  to  acquire  the  same  within 
two  years.  Missionaries  who  are  sent  expressly  for  work 
in  the  English  language,  or  who  are  assigned  to  exclu¬ 
sive  English  work  in  institutions  of  learning  by  proper 
authority,  may  be  excepted  from  these  rules.  In  case 
of  illness  or  other  unavoidable  cause,  by  vote  of  the 
Mission,  with  the  approval  of  the  Presiding  Bishop, 
the  time  for  acquiring  the  language  may  be  extended. 

27.  There  is  no  specified  term  of  service  in  the  field. 
At  appropriate  times  and  for  sufficient  reasons  the  con¬ 
sent  of  the  Board  of  Managers  will  be  given  to  the  return 
on  furlough  of  a  missionary  and  his  family  to  this 
Furloughs  country  at  the  expense  of  the  Society.  Such 
returns  are  mutually  beneficial  to  the  missionaries  and 
to  the  home  churches;  they  are  soften  necessary  for 
rest,  recuperation,  and  medicaf^ treatment ;  and  are 
always  invigorating  to  the  faith  and  religious  life  of  the 
men  and  women  who  have  dwelt  for  years  amid  hea- 


20 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


thenism.  Too  frequent  returns  or  returns  for  insuffi¬ 
cient  reasons  are  harmful.  Those  desiring  to  return 
should  make  application  through  the  Finance  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  Mission,  stating  reasons  therefor,  with 
the  Bishop’s  approval,  furnishing  medical  certificate  if 
it  be  on  account  of  health.  The  application  should  be 
forwarded  to  the  Corresponding  Secretaries  for  pres¬ 
entation  to  the  Board.  Missionaries  are  expected 
to  spend  their  furloughs  in  the  United  States.  If 
any  contemplate  remaining  any  portion  of  the  time 
in  any  other  country,  statement  of  the  fact  should  be 
made  in  the  application  to  the  Board. 

28.  The  furlough  begins  when  the  missionary  leaves 
the  field,  not  when  he  arrives  at  home.  After  he  has 
entered  upon  his  leave  from  the  Mission  and  for  a 

period  of  one  year,  but  not  longer  unless 
specially  authorized  by  the  Board,  he  will  be 
paid  the  salary  fixed  by  the  Board  for  mission¬ 
aries  on  furlough.  If,  for  any  reason,  a  missionary  has 
left  the  field  not  to  return  to  it,  and  is  in  good  health, 
he  must  cease  to  be  a  charge  to  the  Missionary  Society 
at  the  earliest  moment  he  can  be  employed.  For  this 
end  he  should  report  his  expected  return  promptly  to 
the  Church  officers,  whose  duty  it  may  be  to  open  a 
door  for  his  employment  in  this  country. 

29.  One  of  the  important  duties  of  every  mis- 


Furlough 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


21 


sionary  is  the  preparation  of  reports  and  statistics 
of  his  work  and  the  prompt  forwarding  of  the  same 
at  the  proper  time  to  the  person  or  persons 
whose  duty  it  is  to  gather  the  reports  and 
statistics  for  the  district  or  mission  and  to 
forward  the  same  to  the  Mission  Rooms.  The  An¬ 
nual  Report  of  the  Missionary  Society  is  the  great 
historical  document  of  the  year.  Its  comprehensive 
statements  and  statistical  summaries  based  on  the 
reports  from  all  fields  are  given  wide  publicity 
through  the  Church  and  secular  press.  Moreover, 
the  Annual  Report  is  the  document  most  consulted 
in  reference  and  research  libraries  by  those  seeking 
special  information  about  Methodist  Missions.  Most 
important  is  it  therefore  that  accurate  and  adequate 
reports  be  submitted  from  all  fields  promptly  and 
at  designated  intervals,  so  that  each  year  the  An¬ 
nual  Report  of  the  Society  may  be  a  complete 
survey  of  the  work  of  that  year. 

30.  In  order  to  prevent  undue  delays  in  the 
issuing  of  the  Annual  Report  it  is  necessary  that 
reports  and  statistics  reach  the  New  York 
Sending  in  December  1  each  year.  Presiding 

Elders  are  requested,  with  this  end  in  view, 
to  have  their  reports  and  statistics  ready  by 
October  31,  and  to  place  them  in  the  hands  of 


22 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


the  Treasurer  or  Corresponding  Secretary  or  other 
officer  of  the  Mission,  that  they  may  be  promptly 
and  safely  forwarded. 


in.  The  Finances  of  the  Missions 
A,  Treasurers  and  Their  Duties 

31.  A  Treasurer  for  each  Mission  will  be  appointed 

by  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Missionary 

Appointment  gp^iety.  The  Mission  may  nominate  or  rec- 
of  Treasurer  . 

ommend,  but  appointment  and  removal  are 

wholly  in  the  power  of  the  Board. 

32.  The  Mission  Treasurer  is  an  officer  under  the 
Board  of  Managers.  He  is  responsible  for  the 

Responsible  proper  performance  of  his  duties  as  Treasurer 
Only  to  the  Board  only.  He  shall  guard  its  interests 

and  shall,  through  the  Corresponding  Secre¬ 
taries,  receive  from  time  to  time  his  instructions. 

33.  He  shall  receive  such  remittances  as  may  be 
sent  to  him  by  the  Corresponding  Secretaries,  and 

disburse  the  same  as  directed  by  them,  and  in 


To  Disburse 
Remittances 


no  other  way,  receiving  for  each  payment  a 
voucher,  which  shall  be  regularly  marked  and 
numbered  on  the  back  and  filed.  If  the  payments 
are  made  through  a  presiding  elder  or  other  person, 
he  shall  require  each  voucher  to  be  returned  to  him 
to  be  dealt  with  as  above.  Salaries  and  other  items 
of  appropriations  should  be  paid  monthly. 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


23 


May  Not 
Loan  Funds 


May  Not 
Make  Drafts 


34.  He  shall  make  no  loans  from  any  of  the  funds 
in  the  Mission  Treasury  under  any  circum¬ 
stances,  and  he  is  forbidden  to  receive  money 
on  deposit  or  for  investment  on  personal  ac¬ 
count  in  any  enterprise  or  security. 

35.  No  treasurer,  missionary,  or  other  person,  ex¬ 
cepting  the  Corresponding  Secretaries,  is  allowed  to 

make  drafts  on  the  Treasurer  for  Foreign  Mis¬ 
sions,  except  on  letters  of  credit  duly  issued. 
The  Bishops  are  the  persons  authorized  to  draw 
for  Domestic  Missions,  except  such  as  are  outside  of 
Annual  Conferences,  for  which  drafts  will  be  sent  out 
by  the  Corresponding  Secretaries. 

36.  The  exchange  of  the  Society  must  not 
be  sold  until  the  Mission  is  in  actual  need  of 
the  cash,  and  no  drafts  should  be  made  upon 
letters  of  credit  beyond  immediate  necessity. 

37.  Appropriations  and  balances  of  appropriations 
of  any  Mission,  unexpended  at  the  close  of  the  fiscal 
year,  whether  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer 
Lapsed ^Ap-  Society  or  any  of  its  agents,  shall  lapse 

to  the  Treasury  of  the  Society,  and  may  not  be 
thereafter  used  for  the  purposes  for  which  they  were 
appropriated,  except  to  discharge  authorized  pre¬ 
existing  obligations.  The  Board  has  no  authority  to 
reappropriate  such  balances  after  they  have  lapsed. 


Sale  of 
Exchange 


propriations 


24 


Manual  op  Missionary  Society 


38.  The  Finance  Committee  of  every  Mission  should 
provide  for  an  audit  quarterly  and  annually,  of  all 

accounts  within  the  Mission,  not  only  expendi- 

Auditing  tm>es  on  account  of  regular  approiiriations,  but 

of  all  other  moneys.  The  Auditing  Committee 
should  certify  this  audit  upon  the  books,  and  the 
accounts  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Mission  forwarded 
to  the  Mission  Rooms  should  have  a  like  certificate. 

39.  In  books  or  on  forms  provided  solely  for  that  pur¬ 
pose,  and  which  shall  be  the  property  of  the  Missionary 

Society,  he  shall  keep  a  full  and  detailed  account 

Detailed  receipts  and  disbursements  on  account  of 

Accounts 

the  appropriations,  grants  by  the  Board,  special 
gifts,  and  any  Mission  funds  whatever,  referring  to 
each  voucher  by  its  number,  and  particularly  designate 
by  number  of  exchange  each  remittance  and  the  amount 
received  for  it  in  the  currency  of  the  country;  and 
transmit  at  the  close  of  each  quarter  a  full  account, 
on  blanks  provided  for  this  purpose,  to  the  Mission 
Rooms  at  New  York.  He  shall  also  keep  in  the  same 
books  such  other  accounts  as  may  be  necessary  to  a 
perfect  understanding  of  the  financial  affairs  of  the 
Mission;  and  shall  preserve  all  letters  received,  and 
copies  of  all  letters  sent,  upon  the  business  of  the 
Mission.  All  books  and  accounts,  files  and  records, 
shall  be  delivered  by  the  Treasurer  to  his  successor  in 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


25 


Bank 

Accounts 


Guard  Ex¬ 
penditures 


office,  and  shall  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  any 
member  of  the  Mission  at  any  proper  time. 

40.  If  a  bank  account  is  kept  by  the  Treasurer  of 
the  Mission  it  should  never  be  a  personal  account,  nor 

in  any  way  be  mingled  with  his  personal  affairs, 

but  should  be  in  the  name  of  “ - , 

Treasurer  of  - Mission  of  the  Methodist 

Episcopal  Church,  or  his  Successor  in  office,”  and 
be  recognized  by  the  bank  as  the  property  of  the 
Missionary  Society,  to  fall  at  once,  and  without  any 
process  of  law,  into  the  hands  of  the  succeeding 
Treasurer  of  the  Mission  whenever,  by  death  or 
otherwise,  the  present  incumbent  shall  cease  to  hold 
the  office. 

41.  The  Mission  Treasurer  shall  in  no  case,  either 
directly  or  by  assuming  obligations  for  the  future, 

or  at  the  request  or  by  the  direction  of  any 
person  or  persons,  allow  to  be  expended  for 
the  year  more  than  was  authorized  by  the 
General  Missionary  Committee  and  Board  of  Man¬ 
agers.  He  may  not  exercise  in  the  name  of  the 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  any  authority  that  is  not  expressly  conferred 
upon  him  by  the  Board  of  Managers.  All  matters 
involving  unauthorized  obligations  should  be  referred 
to  the  Board. 


26 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


42.  He  may  pay  no  bills  except  such  as  are  distinctly 
covered  by  the  annual  appropriations,  or 
Pay  No  Un-  special  gifts,  or  other  Mission  funds  in  hand. 
Bills  authorized  by  the  Board  of  Managers. 

All  claims  not  authorized  should  be  referred 
immediately  to  the  Board  for  its  action. 

43.  He  should  require  promptly  of  each 
Expense  missionary  arriving  on  the  field  an  itemized 

Accounts  of  ,  ,  .  r  1  •  •  e 

Missionaries  outgoing  expenses,  a  copy  of 

which  he  should  send  to  the  office  in  New  York 
without  delay. 

44.  Real  estate  accounts  should  be  kept  apart  from 
those  for  the  current  expenses  of  the  Mission.  Each 

piece  of  property  should  have  a  distinct  ac¬ 
count,  and  the  condition  of  each  should  be 
reported  to  the  Corresponding  Secretaries  every 
quarter;  and  at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  especially 
when  a  transaction  is  completed,  a  full  balance  sheet 
should  be  furnished  the  Corresponding  Secretaries. 

45.  Real  estate  may  be  purchased  for  the  Society 
and  improvement  made  on  real  estate,  by  the  erection 

of  buildings  or  otherwise,  only  hy  direct  order  of 
Board,  and  by  persons  specially  authorized 
to  make  such  purchase  or  improvement,  whether 
such  purchase  be  made  from  Mission  funds,  funds 
specially  contributed  for  the  purpose,  or  private 


Real  Estate 
Accounts 


Real  Estate 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


27 


funds.  When  an  authorized  purchase  and  its  record 
are  completed,  the  Treasurer  should  at  once  forward 
a  copy  of  the  title  deeds,  with  translations  of  the 
same,  to  the  Mission  Rooms. 

46.  Titles  should  always  be  taken,  if  it  is  lawful  so 
to  do,  in  the  name  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  incorporated  by 
the  State  of  New  York,  U.  S.  A.  Where  this 
is  unlawful,  the  Board  must  determine  how  titles 
should  be  held. 

47.  Unless  otherwise  directed  by  the  Board,  the 
Treasurer  shall  keep  all  deeds  to  Mission  property  and 

all  other  papers  representing  pecuniary  value, 
and  shall  receive  and  credit  to  the  Missionary 
Society  all  issues  and  incomes  of  its  properties 
in  the  Mission,  and  report  the  same  to  the  Cor¬ 
responding  Secretaries,  and  shall  exercise  a  general 
supervision  over  its  real  estate  and  report  the  con¬ 
dition  of  the  same  to  the  Society  from  time  to  time 
as  he  may  think  requisite,  or  as  requested  by  the 
Corresponding  Secretaries. 

48.  When  any  of  our  missionaries  in  foreign  lands 
desire  to  make  payments  in  the  United  States 

(^^ficates  support  of  their  families,  or  for  friends 

here,  the  money  may  be  paid  to  the  Treasurer  of 
the  Mission,  whereupon  he  shall  issue  a  certificate  of 


Care  for 
Mission 
Property 


28 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


deposit  of  the  prescribed  form  to  the  order  of 
the  person  making  the  deposit,  which,  if  properly 
indorsed,  and  countersigned  by  a  Corresponding 
Secretary,  will  be  duly  honored  on  presentation  to 
the  Treasurer  of  the  Society  at  New  York.  This 
transaction  should  be  immediately  entered  by  the 
Mission  Treasurer  in  his  account  of  receipts.  He 
must  in  no  case  issue  a  certificate  of  deposit  for  more 
than  1200;  nor  more  than  one  certificate  for  that 
amount  to  the  same  missionary  in  any  month;  nor  upon 
a  constructive  deposit  or  a  promise  to  deposit,  but  only 
upon  actual  deposit;  nor  to  persons  not  connected 
with  our  Missions.  Notice  of  each  certificate  of  de¬ 
posit  should  be  sent,  by  the  first  mail  after  the  issue 
thereof,  to  the  Mission  Rooms,  on  blanks  prepared  for 
that  purpose,  showing  date,  number,  and  amount. 
And  at  least  once  m  each  quarter  a  full  statement  of 
all  such  issues  for  the  quarter  shall  be  sent  to  the  Cor¬ 
responding  Secretaries. 

49.  In  case  any  of  our  missionaries  desire  to  make 
purchases  in  the  United  States,  a  bill  for  the  same,  ac¬ 
companied  by  an  order  from  the  missionary 

BUls  for  payment,  may  be  presented  to  the 

Missionaries 

Corresponding  Secretaries  for  audit,  and  upon 
their  approval  may  be  paid  by  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Society,  and  the  same  reported  as  so  much  cash 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church  29 

remitted  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Mission,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  deduct  the  amount  from  the  next 
payment  to  the  missionary.  The  bill  and  order  for 
the  same  shall  be  the  proper  voucher  in  such  cases 
of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Society.  The  order  for  pay¬ 
ment  must  be  written  or  printed,  and  must  be  sent 
to  the  Corresponding  Secretaries,  whether  a  copy  goes 
to  the  firm  or  not.  If  a  duplicate  bill  is  desired  the 
missionary  must  require  it  of  the  dealer.  The  order 
should  never  be  part  of  a  letter,  nor  on  the  same  sheet,  nor 
in  such  form  that  it  can  be  used  as  a  draft  on  the  Society. 

50.  The  Corresponding  Secretaries  will  send  to  each 

Mission  with  each  remittance,  or  oftener,  a  list  of  all 

payments  of  bills  on  account  of  missionaries 

Lists  of  aggregate  of  which  shall  at 

Payments 

once  be  credited  to  the  Society  as  so  much 
remittance.  If  any  of  the  items  are  excepted  to, 
notice  shall  be  given  to  the  Secretary  that  he  may 
explain  the  charge. 


B.  Finance  Committees  and  Their  Duties 

51.  Finance  Committees  will  be  appointed  by  the 
Board  for  all  Missions.  They  do  not  represent 

,  the  Board  of  Managers,  the  General  Mission- 

Appomtcd 

ary  Committee,  or  the  Missionary  Society,  but 
their  advice  and  opinion  will  receive  full  considera- 


30 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


Prepare 

Estimates 


tion.  Nominations  should  be  made  by  the  Missions 
for  confirmation  by  the  Board.  Finance  Committees 
have  the  following  duties  and  powers,  a  majority  of 
the  committee  resident  at  or  near  the  place  where 
the  Treasurer  resides,  to  form  a  quorum  for  the  trans¬ 
action  of  business: 

52.  To  prepare  estimates  for  each  and  every  object 
for  which  appropriations  are  needful,  according  to 

the  rules  of,  and  on  forms  provided  by,  the 
Board  of  Managers.  These  estimates  should 
be  prepared  in  seven  columns;  the  first  should 
give  the  total  amount  necessary  for  each  object;  the 
second,  the  amount  to  be  raised  locally;  third,  the 
amount  expected  from  outside  sources  (special  gifts, 
etc.);  fourth,  the  amount  necessary  for  the  work  as 
it  is;  fifth,  what  is  required  for  new  work;  sixth, 
amounts  asked  from  the  Society;  seventh,  appropria¬ 
tions  of  the  previous  year.  The  first  five  columns 
should  be  in  the  currency  of  the  country;  the  sixth 
and  seventh  in  United  States  currency.  The  rate 
of  exchange  should  always  be  stated.  New  work 
should  be  distinctly  specified  as  such.  Letters 
should  accompany  the  estimates,  explaining  with 
great  particularity  and  care  the  reasons  why  the  re¬ 
spective  appropriations  asked  should  be  granted. 

53.  It  is  very  desirable  that  native  churches  should 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


81 


do  all  they  can  for  the  support  of  their  pastors,  and  for 
the  erection  and  maintenance  of  their  church  properties; 
also,  that,  as  far  as  possible,  tuition  in  schools  be  paid 
for  by  those  who  attend  them;  and  that  papers,  tracts, 
and  Bibles  should  not  be  wholly  gratuitous;  and, 
therefore,  all  missionaries  are  expected  to  give  con¬ 
stant  attention  to  the  matter  of  self-support 
in  the  Mission,  however  small  the  amount  that 

in  Missions 

may  at  fu-st  be  raised.  The  smallest  amount 
that  will  be  needed  should  be  asked  of  the  General 
Committee,  and  the  largest  possible  portion  left  to  be 
raised  in  the  field. 

54.  The  estimates  should  embrace  the  salaries  of  all 
persons  connected  with  the  Mission,  whether  in  the  field 

or  out  of  it;  and  also,  all  expected  outgoing  and 
return  expenses,  and  amounts  needed  for  all 
reinforcements.  The  General  Committee  is  -not 
accustomed  to  leave  any  sums  contingent  or  un¬ 
appropriated,  and  no  Mission  is  at  liberty  to  apply  to 
the  contingent  fund  of  the  Board  except  to  meet 
unexpected  emergencies. 

55.  The  estimates  thus  prepared  should  be  in  the 
hands  of  the  Corresponding  Secretaries  at  least 
one  month  before  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
General  Committee,  that  they  may  be  deliber¬ 
ately  considered  by  the  appropriate  committee,  which. 


Estimate  to 
Include 


When 

Prepared 


32 


Manual  op  Missionary  Society 


by  the  request  of  the  General  Committee,  in  the  case 
of  Foreign  Missions,  is  usually  the  committee  of  the 
Board  having  charge  of  such  Missions  respectively. 
The  Treasurer  of  the  Mission  should  in  all  cases  retain 
a  copy  of  the  estimates  and  the  accompanying  letters 
sent  forward. 

56.  To  arrange  the  redistribution  of  the  appropria¬ 
tions  made  by  the  General  Missionary  Com- 

ArrangeRe-  ^]^g  concurrence  of  the  Presiding 

distribution  .  .  ’  ^ 

Bishop,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Board 

of  Managers,  whose  instructions  must  be  followed 

in  all  cases. 

57.  To  approve  bills  presented  to  the  Treas¬ 
urer  for  payment,  for  legitimate  purposes 
within  the  appropriation. 

58.  To  make  improvements  on  real  estate 
after  appropriations  for  the  same  have  been 
duly  made  by  the  General  Committee  and 
authorized  by  the  Board  of  Managers. 

59.  To  purchase  real  estate  for  which  an 
appropriation  has  been  made  by  the  General 
Committee,  and  which  has  been  authorized  by 

the  Board  of  Managers. 

60.  To  sell  or  exchange,  where  the  inter- 

of  Mission  require  it,  real  estate  of  a 

value  not  exceeding  $250. 


Approve 

Bills 


Real  Estate 
Improve¬ 
ments 


Purchase 
Real  Estate 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


33 


Provide  for 
Emergencies 


61.  To  provide  for  unexpected  emergencies  im¬ 
periling  life  or  property  where  the  exigency 


does  not  permit  of  delay.  See  paragraphs  9 
and  10  on  pages  8  and  9. 

62.  To  provide  for  a  thorough  auditing  of  all  the 
accounts  of  the  Mission  Treasurer  quarterly,  as  required 

by  the  forms  provided  by  the  Board,  also 

annually,  the  report  of  the  annual  audit  to  be 
Accounts  . 

sent  to  the  Corresponding  Secretaries,  and  to 

be  published  in  the  minutes  of  the  Mission  Confer¬ 
ence.  Care  should  be  taken  not  only  in  the  exam¬ 
ination  of  vouchers  and  to  see  if  footings  are  correct, 
but  also  to  ascertain  that  the  disbui'sements  are  in 
accordance  with  the  appropriations. 

63.  To  determine  what  are  the  legitimate  moving 
expenses  of  pastors,  the  rate  of  allowance  for 
traveling  expenses  to  and  from  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  Mission  or  Conference,  and  to  esti¬ 
mate  the  amount  and  character  of  Mission  furniture 
to  be  ordered,  and  determine  where  it  is  to  be  placed. 

64.  To  consider  all  applications  to  be  made  to  the 
Board  of  Managers  for  special  grants;  for  per¬ 
mission  to  use  funds  in  hand,  other  than  appro¬ 
priations,  for  specific  objects  or  for  other  pur¬ 
poses;  and  recommend  or  refuse  to  recommend 

such  applications. 


penses^  etc. 


Pass  Upon 
Requests  to 
Board 


34 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


Recommend 

Furloughs 


65.  To  recommend  for  the  action  of  the  Board,  the 
presiding  Bishop  concurring,  the  return  of  mission¬ 
aries  to  the  United  States  on  furlough.  Fur¬ 
loughs  should  be  so  planned  that  a  sufficient 
number  of  missionaries  shall  always  be  in  the 

field  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  Mission. 

66.  To  regulate  the  salaries  of  preachers  and  workers 
employed  in  the  field,  subject  to  reports  on 

Salaries  of  their  progress  in  the  prescribed  course  of 
Workers  studies,  and  having  regard  to  their  usefulness, 
the  size  of  their  families,  and  the  cost  of  living 
in  the  places  to  which  they  are  assigned. 


C.  Administration  of  Special  Gifts  and 
Other  Funds 

67.  Article  X  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Missionary 
Society  provides  for  special  donations  as  follows: 
“Whenever  any  charge,  including  the  Sunday 
school,  shall  raise  its  full  apportionment  for 
Missions,  then  any  attendant  of  said  charge 
shall  have  the  privilege  of  making  special  do¬ 
nations  to  any  Mission  or  work  in  such  Mission  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  such  special  dona¬ 
tions  shall  be  received  by  the  Missionary  Society  for 
the  specified  purpose,  and  be  credited  to  said  charge.” 


Constitu¬ 

tional 

Provision 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


35 


68.  It  is  very  important  that  all  special  gifts  should 

pass  through  the  Treasury  of  the  Missionary  Society; 

o  .  ,  ^  ,  first,  because  if  contributors  send  their  money 
Special  Gifts 

through  direct  to  the  field,  the  Treasurer  of  the  Society 
Society  cannot  give  receipts  for  it,  and  pastors  will  have 
Treasury  vouchers  which  can  be  accepted  at  Confer¬ 

ence;  second,  because  special  gifts  sent  direct  may 
go  astray,  and  without  record  such  as  is  made  by 
the  Missionary  Society  it  might  be  difficult  to  trace 
them.  No  charge  whatever  is  made  by  the  Mission¬ 
ary  Society  for  handling  special  gifts,  and  its  bills 
of  exchange  are  known  and  honored  in  all  parts  of 
the  world.  Missionaries  are  required,  in  communica¬ 
ting  with  special  contributors  in  the  United  States,  to 
request  them  to  forward  their  special  donations  to 
the  Treasurer  of  the  Society  in  New  York,  who  will 
promptly  furnish  receipts  to  the  donors, 

69.  Missionaries  receiving  contributions  or  special 
gifts  for  current  work,  whether  from  persons 

Deposited  on  the  field  or  in  the  United  States  or  else- 
with  Mission  must  deposit  them  at  once  with  the 

Mission  Treasurer,  and  itemized  bills  shall  be 
presented  to  the  Mission  Treasurer  for  the  applica¬ 
tion  of  such  funds,  to  be  receipted  when  paid,  au¬ 
dited  by  the  Finance  Committee,  and  filed  by  the 
Treasurer. 


36 


Manual  of  Missionary  Society 


Income  on 
the  Field 


Gifts  for 
Property 


Rentals^  etc. 


70.  Money  received  for  tuition  in  schools,  and  as 
medical  fees,  shall  be  disbursed  under  the 
direction  of  the  Mission  Treasurer,  on  a  plan 
approved  by  the  Finance  Committee,  to  which 

full  report  with  vouchers  shall  be  made  quarterly. 

71.  All  contributions  for  building  and  property 
received  by  missionaries  on  the  field  shall 
be  deposited  with  the  Mission  Treasurer,  to 
be  drawn  out  only  with  the  consent  of  the 

Finance  Committee. 

72.  All  income  from  rentals,  etc.,  of  property  owned 
by  the  Society  shall  go  to  the  MissionTreasury,  to 
be  paid  out  only  on  the  authority  of  the  Board. 

73.  The  Society  expects  and  requires  that  all  our 
work  shall  become  self-supporting  as  rapidly  as  pos¬ 
sible.  Its  well-defined  policy  is  that  churches 

English-  fQj,  English-speaking  and  other  peoples  of  Prot- 
estant  origin  shall  be  established  only  where  they 
can  become  immediately  self-supporting,  our 
Mission  funds  being  designed  exclusively  for  evangel¬ 
istic  work  among  non-Christian  or  non-Protestant  peo¬ 
ples.  Preachers  are  appointed  to  English  charges  in 
the  mission  field  on  the  same  terms  as  to  pastoral 
charges  in  this  country,  to  accept  such  support  as  the 
charges  can  afford,  the  Missionary  Society  being  under 
no  obligation  to  maintain  salaries  at  a  fixed  rate. 


INDEX 


The  numbers  refer  to  the  paragraphs. 


Acceptance  of  Missionaries  on  the  Field,  25. 

Accounts,  Detailed,  39. 

Bank,  40. 

Expense,  of  Missionaries,  43. 

Real  Estate,  44. 

Audit,  62. 

Administration  of  Missionary  Society,  4,  6. 

Of  Special  Gifts  and  Other  Funds,  67-73. 

Allowances,  13,  20,  25. 

American  Bible  Society,  1. 

Annual  Conferences,  5,  6,  20,  22,  25. 

Annual  Report,  21. 

Applications,  10,  12. 

Appropriations,  37,  41,  42. 

Audit  Accounts,  62. 

Auditing  Committee,  38. 

Balances,  37. 

Bank  Accounts,  40. 

Bills,  16,  42,  49,  57. 

Bishops,  3,  4,  10,  22,  26,  27,  35,  56,  65. 

Board  of  Managers,  2,  3,  4,  9,  10,  22,  23,  24,  25,  27,  31,  32,  37, 
41,  42,  45,  47,  51,  52,  56,  58,  59,  62,  64,  65. 

Call  to  Service,  11. 

Candidates,  11, 12. 

Certificates  of  Deposit,  48. 

Charges  on  Freight,  15. 

Charter,  2. 

Children,  15,  25. 

Church  Extension,  1. 

Constitution,  2,  3,  5,  22,  67. 

Contingent  Fund,  8,  9,  10,  54. 

Corresponding  Secretaries,  2,  3,  4,  9,  10,  12,  14,  16,  27,  30,  32, 
33,  35,  44,  49,  50,  55. 

Delegates,  5. 

Deposits,  34,  69. 


38 


Index 


Detailed  Accounts,  39. 

Disburse  Remittances,  33. 

Dispose  of  Real  Estate,  60. 

District  Conferences,  5. 

Domestic :  See  Home. 

Drafts,  May  Not  Make,  35. 

Emergencies,  Provide  for,  61. 

English-Speaking  Work,  73. 

Estimates,  52,  54,  55. 

Examination  of  Candidates,  12. 

Exchange,  36,  39. 

Expenditures,  Guard,  41. 

Expense  Accounts  of  Missionaries,  43. 

Extraordinary  Cases,  9. 

Farewell  Visits,  13. 

Field  and  Home  Salaries,  19. 

Field,  Foreign,  19,  21-28. 

Finance  Committees,  10,  18,  20,  27,  38,  51-66,  70,  71. 
Finances  of  the  Missions,  31-73. 

Foreign  Field,  19,  21-28. 

Foreign  Missionaries,  22,  24,  25. 

Foreign  Missions,  1,  3,  5,  6,  9,  10. 

Freight,  Charges  on,  15. 

Freight,  Passage  and,  14. 

Furloughs,  15,  19,  25,  27,  28,  65. 

Furniture,  Mission,  17. 

General  Conference,  2,  5,  6. 

General  Conference  Districts,  3. 

General  Missionary  Committee,  3,  4,  6,  8,  41,  51,  55,  56,  59. 
Gifts,  Special,  67-69,  71. 

Home  Missionaries,  22. 

Home  Missions,  1,  3,  6,  9, 10. 

Home  Salaries,  19. 

Improvements,  Real  Estate,  58. 

Income  on  the  Field,  70. 

Language,  Must  Learn  the,  26. 

Lapsed  Appropriations,  37. 

Leave,  24,  28. 

Letters  of  Credit,  35,  36. 

Letters,  Preserve,  39. 

Life  Insurance,  16. 


Index 


39 


Lists  of  Payments,  50. 

Loans,  Make  No,  84. 

Managers :  See  Board. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  1,  7. 

Mission,  26,  30,  31,  37,  38. 

Mission  Conference,  5. 

Mission  Finance  Committee  :  See  Finance. 
Mission  Furniture,  17. 

Mission  Property,  47,  71,  72. 

Mission  Treasurer  :  See  Treasurer. 

Missionaries,  Bills  for,  49. 

Expense  Accounts  of,  43. 

Qualifications  and  Selection  of,  11-30. 
Missionary  Society,  1-10,  51,  67,  68. 

Missionary  Work,  1,  5,  6. 

Missions,  5,  7,  9,  25. 

Medical  Examination,  12. 

Fees,  70. 

Moving  Expenses,  etc.,  63. 

Native  Workers,  Salaries  of,  66. 

No  Outfit  Allowance,  13. 

Orphans,  20. 

Outfit,  13. 

Pass  Upon  Requests  to  Board,  64. 

Passage  and  Freight,  14. 

Pastors,  Moving  Expenses  of,  63. 

Paying  Bills  for  Missionaries,  16. 

Payment,  Lists  of,  50. 

Pensions,  25. 

Pianos  and  Organs,  15. 

Place  and  Work  of  Missionary,  21. 

Premiums,  16. 

Prepare  Estimates,  52. 

Presiding  Elders,  10,  30,  33. 

Property,  47,  71,  72. 

Purchase  of  Real  Estate,  45,  59. 

Purpose  of  Missionary  Society,  1. 

Qualifications  and  Selection  of  Missionaries,  11-30. 
Quarterly  Conferences,  20. 

Real  Estate,  44,  45,  47,  58,  60. 

Recording  Secretaries,  3,  14-16. 


40 


Index 


Records,  Preserve,  39. 

Redistribution,  56. 

Remittances,  33,  39. 

Rent  at  Horae,  18. 

Rentals,  etc.,  72. 

Reports,  29,  30,  39. 

Responsible  to  the  Board  Only,  32. 

“Request  to  Certify  Bills,”  16. 

Requests  to  Board,  64. 

Salaries,  19,  20,  25,  28,  33,  54,  66. 

Sale  of  Exchange,  36. 

Secretaries,  14,  16. 

See  Corresponding,  Recording. 

Self-Support,  50,  73. 

Service,  11,  12,  27. 

Special  Gifts,  67-69,  71. 

Statistics,  29,  30. 

Status  of  a  Missionary,  22. 

Sunday  School  Union,  1. 

Superannuates,  Widows,  and  Orphans,  20. 
Superintendent  of  Mission,  10. 

Support  of  Missions,  7. 

Tract  Society,  1. 

Treasurer  of  Mission,  14, 17,  30,  31-50,  55,  57,  62,  69-71. 
Treasurer  of  Missionary  Society,  2,  3,  68. 

Tuition,  70. 

Vacations,  23. 

Visits,  Farewell,  13. 

Voucher,  33,  39. 

Widows,  20. 

Work  of  Missionary,  21. 


